TIRUPPUR: Even as social activists continue to urge the state government to take action against contractors who have mined excessive amounts of minerals from stone quarries in violation of norms, the Department of Mineral Resources has initiated a drone-based survey of all 120 quarries across Tiruppur district.
Officials told the TNIE that if violations are detected during the drone survey, measures such as imposition of fines will be taken.
R Sathish Kumar, state secretary of the legal awareness wing of Tamilaga Vivasayigal Pathukappu Sangam, who continues to fight against violations in stone quarries, recently met Minister for Mineral Resources TK Prabhu and lodged a complaint regarding the irregularities taking place in stone quarries across the state and their impact.
Sathish Kumar said, "Apart from irregularities in stone quarries, we also submitted a representation regarding GO (03), dated January 22, 2026, relating to the regularisation of illegal mining activities. The said government order is highly alarming and contrary to the principles of environmental justice, public safety, accountability and the rule of law. Illegal mining is not merely a procedural violation; it is a serious criminal and environmental offence causing irreversible destruction of natural resources, groundwater depletion, environmental pollution, and severe threats to public safety."
"Further, permitting or regularising illegal mining activities after violations have occurred would amount to encouraging unlawful activities and indirectly protecting violators instead of prosecuting them. Financial penalties proposed under the GO are extremely minimal and disproportionately low compared to the actual value of minerals illegally extracted over several years. Therefore, we urged the minister to withdraw the order. We also requested the minister to act firmly to protect natural wealth, environmental balance and public safety for future generations," he added.
Against this backdrop, the Department of Mineral Resources has initiated a drone-based survey of all stone quarries across Tiruppur district.
A senior official of the Department of Mineral Resources said, "Currently, 120 stone quarries are operational in Tiruppur district. The task of surveying all quarries using drones has begun. We have already completed survey work in 16 quarries. If violations are detected in quarries through drone surveys, legal actions, including the imposition of fines, will be initiated. We have planned to complete these tasks expeditiously."
"To evade drone surveys, violators cover up the areas where they have illegally extracted minerals at quarries with soil. The authorities should take this into consideration as well," M Vijayakumar, a social activist, said.
